Distilling apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W.`F. M. GOSS.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATON FILED 00T.18, 1902.

PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W. F.. M. Goss. DISTILLING APPARATUS..

A-PPLIOATION FILED O0T.18, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

d@ Mmfizra. ma. #ai

PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

. M. GOSS. BSTLMNG APPARATUS.

APPLIATIEFILED'OOT.18,1902.

BHEETH-BHEET 3.

,631. PATBNTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W. P. M. GOSS. DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001218, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

y# Maw UNITED STATES l1 ATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM F. M. GOSS, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES DISTILLATIONl COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

To all whom 'it may concom:

Be it knownithat I, WILLIAM F. M. Goss, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Distilling Apparatus, (Case 4,) of' which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a Specication of Letters Patent'. Application filed October 18,1902. Serial No. 127,835.

ing the evaporators with properly heated liquid to replace that constantly being evaporated.

In the apparatus herein shown for carrying out my invention, I provide indepen'dent' or separate heating chambers or heaters for heating the liquid before it enters the evaporating chambers-preferably one heater foreach evaporator. V These heaters are supplied with the liquid to be distilled and the liquid in each is properly heated and then automatically fed to the chamber it is supplying, in this heated condition. The liquid is suppliedto the heaters at such pressure as 'to insure its entering any ofthe evaporators.

lIn the accompanyingdrawings,` I have shown my present-feed vsystem applied to an apparatus set forth' and claimed lin Patent No. 713,297, issued November l1, 1902. In such apparatus the liquid to' be distilled is fed forwardly t the different evaporators, and the vapors resulting Afrom each are carried back and caused to heat yand evaporate the contents of the next preceding evaporator, and the condensate resulting is carried still further back and caused to heat and evaporate the contents of the 'second preceding evaporator. In using my present feedsystem in connection with such apparatus, I employ the backwardly moving -vapors and condensate to heat the liquid in the several heaters. In this arrangement there are combined with the set or series of evaporators a main heater of large size to preliminarily heat the feed liquid, and also a set or series of smaller auxiliary or supplemental heaters. The latter are arranged one for each of theevaporators between the end evaporators. That is to say, the first Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

pressure at least as great as the highest pressure in the evaporators.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side ele- 'vation of a distilling apparatus embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same on an `enlarged scale. Figs. 4 and 5 arevertical sections of one of the evaporators and one of the heaters respectively. Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sectionsof the same. Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical .sections of details of construction.

The apparatus 4shown inthe drawings forcarrying,

out my invention, comprises a heating chamber or lheater Aand a plurality of evaporating chambers or evaporators B, B B2', B3, B, B5, and B6. The heater f. is for preliminarily heating the water to be distilled,

Ind the' evaporators B, B etc. are for evaporating it. These `chambers or receptacles can be of any suitable construction, but are preferably made as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. This construction consists of a cylindric casing 1 having pipe openingsZ 'and 3 and provided I with a top 4 and a bottom 5. Within the casing is a'set of pipes 6, 6, extending between an upper head 7 and a lower head 8. The' pipes 6, 6 have a threaded connec- Ition with the lower head 8, and have loose jointsadapted to allow expansion and' contraction, with the upper head 7. The joints shown consist eachof a threaded sleeve 9 and a packing sleeve 10 intowhich the pipe 6 ts, and packing 1 1 .below the sleeve 10. The head 7 is fitted between the 'top 4 and casing l, and the lower head 8 is suspended by a largepipe 12, the head 6 being smaller in diameter than the interior of the casing 1.v A bowl 13 is secured torand below the head 8 and a pipe 14 extends downwardly from the latter and out through a stung box in the bottom 5. A bale plate 15' is supported above the pipe 12. The character of the several details entering into the construction ,of each individual evaporator chamber has been determined with reference toease in cleaning the chambers. To this end, the outer shell is provided either with a man-hole or hand-hole a (Fig. 4), depending upon the size of vthe apparatus, arid a blow-off pipe, not shown inthe drawings, connects with the lower portion of the chamber'. -To serve in more thorough cleanings than may be permitted by these means, .the construction is such that by disconnecting the piping, and by the removal of the upper covers of the evaporator chamber, the whole nest of tubes with their'attached heads, can be drawn upward and thence ut of the shell ofthe chamber. All parts having been thoroughly cleaned, they may be as easily restored to place.

Arranged-above and associated with the evaporators B, B2, B3, B4 and B5, are small or auxiliary heaters C, 702703, C, andC, by which the lliquid under distillation is heated .before it enters the corresponding evaporator. Theheaters C, C-etc. can be of any suitable construction, but are preferably made as shown in Figs. 5 and 7,. This construction is similar' to that of the evaporators and hence need not be described. The general construction of the evaporators, so far as the nesting of the tubes is concerned, is carriedout in the design of the several heaters.

An inlet pipe 16, conveying the liquid to be distilled, is connected with the opening 2 of the large heater A. Connected with the other opening 3 of this heater A, is a feed pipe 17, which extends to and is connected with the lower endof the auxiliary heater C.` A branch feed pipe 18 for the first evaporator, extends from the feed pipe 17 down to a feed regulator D (Fig. 1). This regulator is adapted to regulate the supply of liquid fed to the evaporator B and to maintain the height of l' the saine constant. To such end it consists of a casing 19 containing a loat 20, controlling a feed valve which closes as the float rises. Valves performing this 'function are to be had on the market, and originality is not claimed for the details of this feature of the apparatus.

The regulator D is connected with the evaporator B bya feed pipe 21 and a pressure equalizing pipe 22, connecting the regulator chamber and the steam space of the evaporator chamber. A feed pipe 23 connects the upper portion of the heater C with the lower part of the next heater C2, and similar pipes 23, 23", connect the remaining heaters together in' a similar manner.`

` Branch feed pipes 24, 24B, connect the pipes 23, 23,

with regulators Df, D2D3, and D, constructed and connected as explained in regard to-the regulator D.

From theend heater C5, a feed pipe 25 -runs directly to a extends from the top of the evaporator B to the upper y part of the next evaporator B. A mixture pipe 28 extendsfrom the top of the evaporator B to the bottom of the heater C (Figs. 4 and 5), and a vapor pipe 29 extends from the top of the heater C/ to the upper part of- ,the evaporator B2. Similar pipes 28, 28", 285, and 28, and 29, 29b and 29c are provided. From the top of =the last heater `C5 vapor pipe 30 extends to and is connected with the side of the lastevaporator B5 near the top thereof. A mixture pipe 31 is connected with the 'vapor' pipe 27 near the' connection of the latter with the `heater A, and extends to the bottom of the evaporator EB. A similar pipe 31 extends from the top of the evaporator B, to the bottom of the evaporator Bf In like manner a pipe 32 is connected with the vapor pipe 29 near'the top of the heater C and is connected with the bottom of the evaporator B2. Similar pipes 32, 32

, and 32. are provided. At thep junction of the pipes 27 and 31 is located a pressure reducing valve 33 which can be of any suitable construction, but conveniently consists of a contracted orifice 34 controlled by a valve 35 (Fig. 9). Similar pressure reducing valves 33, 33, etc. are provided.

l The last evaporator BG is provided with a steam supply pipe 36 by which steam is conveyed to it from a boiler, and also `with a return steam pipe by Whichthe spent steam is returned to the boiler. provided with an outlet pipe 38 for the distilled liquid.

The heater A is Other pipes not shown in the drawings, but elsewhere referred to in the description, connect, one each with the lower portion of each evaporator chamber B, Bf, B2, B5',

B4, B5 and B5 respectively for the purpose of serving as the heaterA through the pipe 16. This liquid fills the casing of the heater A,--not entering the pipes 6,v 6 or 12,-and then circulates around the same and out through the pipe 17, from which it flows into the evapo- /rator B, the water level of which is maintained constant at the middle of the glass E, and thence into the heater Cf, the shell of which it completely fills. From the heater C it overflowsin the pipe 23 to the evaporator-B, and then the next heater C2. In this way all the evaporators are supplied with water to be evaporated, the level in each shell remaining lconstant at a point near the middle of the glasses E E2, E3, etc. respectively, while the heaters constitute 4in effect a part of the feed pipe system and are thus kept filled. Live steam at high pressure andtemperature is then supplied the pipe 36 ofthe last evaporator B5, so that it circulates through the pipes thereof from top to bottom, vpassing out the pipe 37 and not commingling with the liquid to be distilled in the casing or evaporating chamber of this evaporator. This circulation of live vsteam causes evaporation of the liquid in the evaporator B5. Theresulting vapors pass out the pipe 3() and into the top of the heater `C5 whence they circulate down- Wardly in the pipes thereof, thereby heating the liquid in the heater and becoming condensed or partially condensed in so doing. The resulting condensate or mixture flows out of the heater C5 by wayof the pipe 28d and into the top of the evaporator B5 Where it circulates down through the pipes therein, heating the liquid in said evaporator in its passage. The condensate or mixture continues on out ofthe evaporator B5 by way of the pipe 32, through the pressure reducing valve 33 and into the heater C4. The heating of the liquid in the evaporator B5 by the condensate or mixture circulating through it from the heater C5, causes evaporation of such liquid. The resulting vapors pass out through the pipe 29c and minglewith the mixture or condensate issuing from the pressure reducing valve 33e, the pressure of such mixture or condensate being reduced by such valve to substantially the pressure of the vapors' coming from the evaporator B5, and the whole combined mixture passing into the heater C4. Here it heats the contained feed liquid, the vapors from evaporator B5 being :condensed or partially condensed thereby, and then passes on vinto and through the evaporator B4 where the mixture again acts to heat and evaporate the liquid contained therein, .passing out through the pipe 321. The vapors produced in evaporator B4 issue through pipe 29 and commingle with the condensate or mixturc coming through the pressure reducing valve 33, In like manner the process is carried on in the other evaporators and heaters, the resulting condensate issuing in a single stream from pipe 38. The liquid evaporated from the various evaporators is automatic- I ally replaced from the corresponding or associated heater, excepting that the last two evaporators are suptained, after which during operation, all temperatures remain constant. I find that in handling water withv seven evaporators, as shown in the drawings, very good results are obtained by supplying the liquid to be dis.

tilled at a temperature of 60 F.. and pressure of 100 lbs. and supplying the last evaporator with steam at a pressure of 100 lbs. and temperature of 338 F. vThe' temperatures and pressures of the contents of the dify ferent evaporators will then be approximately as follows:

7th evaporator, pressure 75 lbs., temp. 320 F.

Whenv operating under these conditions, the distillate vissues as a liquid stream,with practically no steam.

With liquid other than water, for which the apparatus maybe equally well adapted, the Values would be different from those stated, depending upon the physical properties.of the substances.

In order that the temperature of the feed delivered by each heater may be equal to that of the evaporator chamber supplied, the extent of transmitting surfaceV in the several heaterswould need tovary in size, increasing las the temperature to which they are subjected increases. A s a practical matter, however, such a differentiation is not deemed essential to the proper working, and in `the-'apparatus herein shown, allof the foregoing heaters are of the same size.

The arrangement of parts shown by the various dia grams is such as are suited to an apparatus working from an initial steam pressure ofv 100 pounds, and delivering the condensed liquid against atmospheric pressure. The cycle of the apparatus is, however, such as to permit .anI air pump being. used upon the discharge end and in this connection the pressure' against which the condensed liquid will be delivered may be reduced below the pressure of the atmosphere. By

such means there may be secured a wider range of tem-- pcrature thanfcouldotherwise be had, or an apparatus may be designed to work entirely b elow the pressure of the atmosphere, it being possible to have the source of heat in this case the exhaust steam from anvengine.

In cases where'low terminal pressures are used it may happen that the difference in the pressure of one evaporator chamber, as compared with that nextV adjoining it, may be lessthan the pressure, equivalent to the column of water and steam in the pipes 31, 31, etc., and circulation would naturally cease.. In view of this fact, anapparatus designed to work under a vacuum would have the evaporators of'lower temperature, placed one above the other, the series being in part at least, arranged in a vertical line instead of a horizontal line. I do not therefore wish to be confined to the particular order in the arrangement of parts which is here described, but on the contrary, the description and the diagrams are to be given a general interpretation, the rightbeing reserved to use any other arrangement adapted 'to the accomplishment ofA the general results herein set forth.

It will be understood thatI do not wishto limit myself to the application of this feed systemto apparatus embodying the invention of my said Patent No. 713,297, Nov. ll, 1892, as'I consider it capable of various other uses. Nor do I Wish to limit. myself 'to the exact feed apparatus herein set forth, as I consider the same capable. of modification and change without 'departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a series of evaporators, of A a series of heaters, one for each evaporator, a feed pipe` system running between the heaters from one to another in succession, connections for feeding the liquid from each heater to the evaporator with which it is associated, and a pump for supplying liquid to said Apiping system. Y

2. The combination with a series of evaporators, of 'a series' of heaters, one for each evaporator, a piping system running between the heaters from one to another, connections for feeding the liquid from each heater to the evaporator with which it is associated; and a pump for circulating the .liquid through the same, the pressure in said heaters being maintained at the highest pressure in the evapolrators.

3. The combination with a .series of evaporators, of means for inducing a circulation of the liquid to be heated through the evaporatorsin a'forwardly direction, and for 5 inducing a circulation of the condensate through the evaporators in a backwardly direction, a series of heaters one for each evaporator, pipes extending from each heater to the evaporator with which it is associated, a piping system extending between the' heaters from one to another, and means for circulating liquid through the heaters.

4. The combination of a s et or series of evaporators under different temperatures, means whereby Vthe vapors and lcondensates from the various evaporators heat and evaporate liquid in the other evaporators, a series of heaters one tor` each evaporator, connection/s betweenthe heaters and the evaprators with which they are respectively associated; and means whereby the evaporator-s and condensates heat the liquidin the heaters to substantially the tempera 'tures of the evaporators before it enters the latter.

5. The combination of a set or series of evaporators,

means for heating the endmost evaporator, means whereby- 6. A feed system for a series ot evaporators, said feed system comprising a set or series of heaters, Pmeans for supplying all of said heaters one after anoth'er with liquid from the same source, means for heating the liquid in the same by the products of evaporation from the evaporators, and means for conveying the heated liquid from the heaters to the evaporators with which the heaters are respectively associated. l

7. The combination of a series of evaporators, a series of heaters one for each evaporator, pipes 23 leading from the upper part of the several heaters to the lower part of the next preceding' heater, pipes 24 extending up from the lower part of each evaporator to the pipe 23 leading from .tireheater of said evaporator to -the next heaternpipe 29 leading from 'the top of the several heaters to the top of the next preceding evaporator, pipes 32 leading from the heater connections of the pipes 29 to the bottom of the next preceding evaporators, and pressure-reducing valves at the heater connections of the pipes 29 and 32.

8. ln apparatus of the class described,V an evaporator comprising a cy-lind-ric casing provided at its upper end with a transverse plate 7, a series of tubes 6, 6 supported by said plate 7 and extending downwardly' therefrom but having their upper ends opening above said plate, a plate 8 secured to the lower end of said tubes 6 and carrying a bowl 13, the plate 8 and bowl 13 beingr of less diameter than .the casing 1 so as to form a passageway for the liquid between the same and the casing, and an outlet pipe 14 extending from the bowl 13 down to the bottom of the casing and forming an outlet for the condensate precipitated in the pipes 6, 6.

9. An evaporator comprising a cylindric casing closed at its upper and lower ends, a series of tubes or pipes 6. 6 extended lengthwise through said casing and supported therein, a partition 7 below the upper vopen ends of said tube 6, lforming a chamber at the upper end of the tube or casing separated or closed from the lower portion of said casing, a receptacle at the lower end of said tubes 6 closed from the interior of the casing, andan outlet from said receptacle extending to the outsdeof said casing.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BnLFIELD, ISABEL C. LEE. 

